Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Chronicles Chapter 31

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Ezra
Date Penned: (430 BC)
Overview: A History of God's Chosen People (c 1-36)
Theme: The Kingdom of Judah (c 10-36)
Message: Hezekiah Restores Worship (1-21)

2 Chronicles 31 Commentary 

(31:1) Idol Worship - Why was idol worship so bad? The Israelites had access to the one true God, but they constantly fell into worshiping lifeless idols made of wood or stone. They put aside worshiping the Creator in order to worship the creation. We are just as guilty when God no longer holds first place in our lives. When we care more about wealth, pleasure, prestige, or material possessions than about God, we are actually worshiping them as gods. Because of idol worship, the people of Judah were eventually sent into captivity in foreign lands (36:14-17). We may not be sent into captivity, but discipline awaits all those who put earthly desires above spiritual priorities.


(31:2-21) The Priest Returned To Work - The priests had not been supported by the government during the evil kings' reigns. Now that the temple had been repaired, Hezekiah organized the priests and resumed the work of the temple according to the plan originally set up by David (1 Chronicles 23:6-24; 24:3-19).


(31:4-10) Tithing Reinstated - Hezekiah reinstated the practice of tithing- giving a tenth of one's income to the priests and Levites so they could be free to serve God and minister to the people. The people responded immediately and generously. God's work needs the support of God's people. Does God receive a regular percentage of your income? Generosity makes our giving delightful to us and to God (2 Corinthians 8-9). How different the church would be today if all believers consistently followed this pattern.


(31:20-21) A Model of Renewal - Because Hezekiah did "that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God," he led the people of Judah in spiritual renewal. His actions serve as a model of renewal for us: (1) He remembered God's compassion (30:9); (2) he kept going despite ridicule (30:10); (3) he aggressively removed evil influences from his life (30:14; 31:1); (4) he interceded for the people, asking for the Lord's pardon (30:15-20); (5) he was open to spontaneity in worship (30:23); and (6) he contributed generously to God's work (313). If you long for renewal in your life, church, and community, consider how you could model your life after Hezekiah's


Dave Burnette's Life Application

What if Everyone Tithed?

 Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we Continue in the book of 2 Chronicles with Chapter 31 and we see Hezekiah restores Worship. What catches my eye is verses 4-6 where Hezekiah reinstates the tithes of the people to finance the house of God. In making application we see that tithing is as much as Worship as anything we do at the House of God. The tithe gives the House of God to finances to Minister to everyone from sending the Gospel around the World, to feeding the poor, to paying the staff, to maintaining the place of Worship, etc. Still today it is estimated that only 2% of Christians actually tithe. It makes me think - what if everyone tithed? If we did then we would have the funds to complete the great commission and fulfill the work of the Ministry. I wonder how many souls will spend eternity in Hell from our disobedience? How about you? Do you tithe? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Hezekiah to remember that tithing is God's plan to finance the House of God.

 

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2 Chronicles 31

2 Chronicles 31

 1Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

 2And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

 3He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.

 4Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.

 5And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

 6And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

 7In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

 8And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

 9Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

 10And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

 11Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

 12And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

 13And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

 14And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things.

 15And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:

 16Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;

 17Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;

 18And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

 19Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.

 20And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

 21And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.